Improvement in baby-walkers



P. W. CLARK.

Improvement in Baby-Walkers.

Patented J une 25, 1872..

Xnv f k.

Wfinesses 1 mmz v b, Z/T" PATENT OFFICE.

PARKEURST CLARK, OF PAW PAW, MICHIGAN.

.. IMPROVEMENT IN BABY-WALKERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,361, dated June 25, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PARKHURST W. CLARK, of Paw Paw, in the county of Van Buren and State of Michigan, have invented an Infants Convertible Walking-Assistant; and. I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a section of removable chair back and seat detached from the assistant. Fig. 3 is a top view of removable chair back and seat and Fig. 4,'a top view of walking-assistant.

Like letters in the different figures of the drawing indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a walking-assistant and support for infants, consisting of legs with casters on their ends attached to a cushioned rim with an opening large and snug enough to admit the body of the infant and support it in a standing position, so as to enable it to learn to walk by its pushing the assistant over the floor; and the invention consists of a removable chair-back so constructed with a cushioned seat that it can be readily attached to the rim of the assistant, so as to convert the latter into an infants chair, thus dispensing with a separate chair and thereby combining economy and convenience in one implement; also, of hinged extension-legs, in connection with the above, arranged so as to be held, when folded up or let down, by hooks and eye-bolts, so as to convert the chair into either a high or low one, as may be desired, and as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The assistant is made as ordinarily, having four legs, A, with casters on their ends and strengthened by the usual cross-bars or braces B, and attached to the rim 0 cushioned so as e to present an easy rest or support for the arms of the infant. Thus, by placing the infant in the rim of the assistant, with its arms freely out over the top thereof, it will push the same over the floor, the infant naturally taking steps to keep pace with it, so that in a short time it would learn to walk and support itself without the assistant. To convert the assistant into an I infants chair, Iconstruct a ch air-back, D, in the usual manner, having a cushionedblock, a, shaped to fit inside the rim of the assistant, so as to form a seat in connection therewith, the block being attached to'the bottom rail of the back D by thin metallic strips 1) covered with soft material and curved so as to fit snugly down over the rim when the back is adjusted thereupon. The block is secured to the rim by hooks 0 being suitably attached to the under side of the block and arranged to catch around pins or their equivalents attached to the under side of the rim. Thus at any time the back can be readily attached by pressing the cushioned block into the rim and fastening it by the hooks, and can be readily detached by releasing the hooks and slipping the block out so that it will be seen the implement can be easily converted into either awalking-assistant or an infants chair. Upon the converting of the assistant into an infants chair, and to make it either a high or low one, I hinge or pivot extension-legs E to the legs of the assistant. These extension legs are formed partly of metal and partly of wood, or they may be made wholly of metal, the metallic portion consisting of semicircular-shaped castings 01, made so as to neatly embrace the legs of the assistant and form a continuation of the same when let down. The castings d are made with sockets c at one end to receive the wooden portions of the extension legs, which are fastened therein by the pivot-screws of the hooks f. To secure the extension legs when folded up or let down, I attach two eye-bolts, g h, to each leg of the assistant, one near the bottom end and on the outer side of each, and the other on the inner side at a sufficient distance above to allow of its insertion through a slot, 1', made in each extension leg. Thus when the extension legs are folded up to make a low chair, the hooks f are inserted through the eyes of the bolts h above; and when let down to make a high chair the hooks are inserted through the eyes of the bolts 9 below, the same hooks f securing the extension legs in either position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The removable chair-back D having the cushioned block or seat a attached by curved V metallic strips I) covered with soft material ararranged andadapted to the rim of the walking-assistant, substantially as set forth.

As evidence that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

- PARKHURSD W. CLARK.

Vitnesses:

FRANCIS GAY, HENRY G. BRIGGS. 

